Catching fish at night is a rather complicated way, which, however, has its fans. Night fishing is possible at any time of the year, but it is more popular in the summer. If you are a beginner, then it is better to try your hand at night fish hunting in the summer, when you will quickly understand all the intricacies of this tricky business and subsequently be able to apply many of these skills during the day. In general, first of all, night fishing is the time of fishing tales, gatherings by the fire and fishing in the intervals between drinking tea (or something stronger). But in order not only to have a good time on such fishing, but also to come home with prey, let's look at some tricks that will help you and save you from night dangers.
Features of night fishing
Let's first understand what are the advantages in this form of fishing :
- You can take any place you like. The bulk of fishermen and just vacationers have already left their parking spots.
- You can not worry that the fish through the clear water will see you and the manipulations that you carry out on the shore.
- Large fish at night are less cautious, so there is a chance of catching trophy specimens and bites of small things are reduced.
- You are not worried about midges, heat and other “pleasures” of day fishing. True, it should be noted that mosquitoes can, on the contrary, activate at night in many reservoirs, so it is better to stock up on repellents.
- There is usually no wind at night or it is very insignificant, which means that it will not interfere with castings.
Species of fish suitable for night fishing
Not any fish can be caught in the dark. Of course, first of all, you should focus on the ichthyofauna of a particular reservoir. But we can say that all this fish should lead an active nightlife. These fish include:
- Different types of catfish.
- Nalim.
- Some representatives of cyprinids (bream, chubs, ides, carp, carps).
- From the family of perches at night you can catch zander.
- Karasi.
Of course, the list can be supplemented, but it is these representatives of the underwater world that are most common throughout Russia.
Choosing the right gear
The first thing you should pay attention to when going out for night fishing is choosing gear that will become indispensable helpers and will provide you half the success. In the dark, most often caught on the donkey or spinning. If you recognize only fly-fishing rods, then equip it with a special night fishing float - with a phosphorus coating that glows in the dark.
Your tackle should be:
- As sensitive as possible.
- Convenient.
- More durable than with day fishing.
Everything seems to be clear with the first two points - you don’t see the tackle, so you will be guided only by tactile sensations, therefore the rod should respond even to weak bites. You should choose a tackle that will be stronger than during day fishing for the same reason - there is a high probability of breakage during posting and fishing, you can also easily catch on snags or some garbage at the bottom of the reservoir.
Other helpful helpers
If you are going to night fishing on a river or lake, pay much more attention to the fees than with daytime fishing. Not only your safety and success of fishing, but also the safety of your partners depends on high-quality and proper equipment. The use of faulty equipment, defective accessories or the absence of any mandatory attributes is not allowed.
The most important, even mandatory subject is a lantern or some other source of light. The most common assistants are headlamps, but it is also better to have a hand-held device for them. Be sure to check their serviceability and stock up on an additional set of batteries.
In addition to the flashlight, think over your clothes. It should be not only extremely comfortable, but also well protected from night dampness and coolness, which are inevitable in any body of water. Shoes should also be the most comfortable and fit tightly on the foot, which eliminates dislocations and other troubles possible in the dark. Ideally, if both clothes and shoes will have reflective stripes, at least from the back.
Rules of conduct in the pond at night
There are also several nuances that will primarily ensure your safety:
- Do not fish from a boat if it is not equipped with a warning beacon or dimensions.
- Explore the coast if you are in an unfamiliar place: it should not be steep or slippery.
- When stitching in the middle, a spinning specialist is better off not going far into the water, especially if he is not familiar with the topography of the bottom - it will be enough to go knee-deep. Remember that when fighting in excitement, you can easily slip or stumble, especially if the bottom is rocky.
- Donors should reliably fix the rods using a high-quality stand, with which the tackle will not slip when biting a large fish.
- When arranging bottom and fly fishing rods, increase the distance between them to prevent tangling of the equipment.
- Spinningists should also get up so as not to get caught on the bait of a neighbor.
Following these simple rules will help you protect yourself from various troubles and injuries during night fishing.
Night spinning
This is probably the most difficult way to catch in the dark. And not only for the fisherman, but also for the fish. Most predators should see the bait, but in the dark this is impossible, they have to focus only on fluctuations in the water. Now it is precisely night that is meant, that is, the darkest time of day, when it is so dark that even the eye is gouged out, and not late evening or early morning. The key to the success of night postings will be a good knowledge of the reservoir on which you catch. It is clear that beginners do not have such knowledge, so they should get their hands on first day fishing.
In general, productive night fishing specifically for spinning is more an accident than a pattern. The most rational use of this equipment is still in the daytime, and at night relax and gain strength the next day.
Night floaters
The most common tackle for night fishing in summer is the classic fly fishing rod or half rod. Fishing at night is practically no different from day fishing. The only thing that some adherents of such hunting advise is the use of floats for night fishing. But on the other hand, opinions on this issue were divided. It seems like it is convenient when in the dark you use a luminous fishing line and a luminous float - for night fishing these are irreplaceable helpers, because you do not see your tackle. But again, many believe that the fish see it, so they do not want to peck. The most avid fishermen prefer to focus on tactile sensations and cast rods so that the float is lit by the weak light of the moon. There is no single correct answer in this question, it is probably better to try each method yourself and choose the one that suits you.
Of course, sitting in the dark with a fishing rod, when you do not see the float, but just frantically waiting for a bite, is a very tense task, but at the same time there is some magic in it that you need to feel at least once in your life.
Night donors and feeders
Such fishing can perhaps be called a classic of the genre. When fishing at night on a feeder, tackle must be selected, focusing on the strength of the current and the weight of the sinker. You can navigate both by the tip of the rod, and by the luminous signaling devices or bells - there are many options, you can choose the right one only from personal experience. Fireflies are best secured with special holders, rather than improvised materials - so you will protect yourself from a large number of overlaps, which can significantly complicate fishing.
When fishing at night, make sure that your gear is well fixed. Even if the trophy bites, it is impossible for him to drag the rod into the water, because in a fishing outburst you will run after him, and this can be fraught with various dangers.
It should also be said that when fishing on these tackles in the dark, it is not necessary to throw the bait in deep holes, at night the fish can bite well on the shallows, going out there for feeding. It is possible to determine the places of fish’s zhor only empirically, throwing gear throughout the pond.
Lure
We should also talk about complementary foods. It is difficult to give recommendations on the use of any particular species, as this will depend on the specific water bodies and their inhabitants. But it’s common that the first feeding should begin shortly before midnight, when most of the small fish are no longer so active, and night predators go hunting. Watch for bites, as soon as you see that a fish has come to the place of bites, throw feeders more often. This should be done approximately every 10 minutes to keep it in place of the bite.
Night fishing for crucian carp
Such fishing is fascinating in that in the dark you can catch large specimens, up to trophy ones. Most often, at night, crucians use donks. When using a feeder, it is advisable to first study the pond well. If this is a section of the river, then you need to know the speed and strength of the current, the width of this section, so as not to make a mistake in choosing gear and casting distance.
Using a feeder, you should choose medium or heavy feeders and throw equipment under the far shore - to the very edge of the vegetation. Such casts should be done until it gets completely dark: during night fishing in the summer, crucian carp, especially large ones, are very careful and are unlikely to come close enough to you. When complete darkness sets in, one can proceed to casting under the near shore. Ideal sites would be places with a weak current and a slightly silted bottom with snags and a marked relief. On a short cast, it is more advisable to use a light feeder - you can no longer be afraid that it will be carried by a strong current.
Crucian feeding
If, in addition to the feeder, you manually spread the lure, then the mixture must be odorous and loose enough so that the dregs settle slowly, but at the same time do not saturate the whole crucian carp. It is good to add a small amount of chopped maggot to the finished feed mixture. Just make sure that this amount is clearly not enough for the fish, then it will greedily grab the bait. On fairly fast currents, complementary foods should be denser and contain more oatmeal. You can also use a closed feeder with a fine mesh.
Crucian carp is a rather careful fish, so make sure that your silhouette does not fall into the water. You will have to refuse bright clothes, as well as the most inconvenient thing, from using a flashlight even when baiting hooks - all this will alert the fish and if it doesn’t scare off at all, it will significantly reduce the number of bites. When fishing, you will have to focus only on the flexible tip of the rod, which will serve as a bite signaling device, so it will greatly facilitate the fishing of the tip of the rod with luminescent paint.
During night fishing for crucian carp in stagnant water (lakes, old ladies , backwaters) castings should be made to the border of clean water, as well as to snags or drops of depth. Lure is used almost the same as when fishing on the river, but looser so that the muddy suspension settles to the bottom longer and arouses the appetite of the fish. The use of oatmeal or bran is already impractical.
Night fishing on bream
When fishing for bream in the dark, feeder gear is most often used. The key to successful fishing will be the study of the reservoir in the daytime, remembering landmarks for casting, flow speed and other factors. Most often, large specimens will be taken at almost the same place where smaller fish were taken during the day, so it would be useful to catch a pond in the afternoon. Casting should be done on the borders of deep holes, in places with a sandy bottom and a weak current, coastal reaches.
It should be borne in mind that in summer, especially in hot weather, it is not always possible to get into the night zhor of a large bream, since, firstly, it already ate after spawning, and secondly, it prefers cold water, and at a shallow depth water warms up per day and does not attract fish so much.
It is better to choose gear for night fishing on bream with a length of 3.5 m or more (meaning feeder gear) to provide long-range casting if you are fishing at the borders of deep holes. Plus with this gear you can raise the feeder much faster and avoid more hooks. It is better to use monofilny fishing line, it is possible fluorescent - the braid will be very difficult to see in water. The feeder is selected depending on the current - for heavier currents, choose heavier feeders. After fishing line, you need to put on a cambric, then attach the swivel with a carabiner and attach one or two leashes up to 25 cm long.
Feed for bream
You can use universal food for bream by mixing it with well-boiled millet porridge. Also, for the smell, you can add vanilla or crushed seeds. If you use corn as the main nozzle, then a small amount can be added to the feed mixture.
In addition to corn, bream can be caught on a “sandwich” (maggot with a bunch of worms), a bunch of bloodworms or worms, semolina.
When fishing for a large bream, follow him: as soon as he emerges and swallows air, he will lose his activity for a while and he can be brought neatly to the shore or to a pre-prepared landing net.
The largest specimens peck at the darkest time of the day, so you should be patient. But even if the day, or rather night, didn’t set, one should always remember that fishing is not the most important thing in fishing. More importantly, at night in silence you rested from the bustle of the day. Do not set as your goal to catch fish, and you will not feel much disappointment even with unsuccessful fishing.